Minerogenetic characteristics and resource potential analysis of bauxite in China

Abstract: This paper summarizes the bauxite minerogenetic characteristics in the aspects of present situation of bauxite resources, genetic types of deposits, prediction types and resource potential of bauxite. Chinese bauxite can be assigned to three genetic types of palaeoweathering crust sedimentary bauxite, accumulation bauxite and laterite bauxite, corresponding to the three bauxite forecast types. Based on distribution of the proven reserves and predicted resources of bauxite in China, the authors made potential analysis of Chinese bauxite deposits in the aspects of main metallogenic belts and provinces of bauxite and main mineralization stages. It is detected that South China lateritic bauxite and North China bauxite under the coal layer will be the main prospecting direction.